The American Basketball Association became one of the first upstart leagues to challenge the dominance of the NBA. A hilarious and nostalgic look at some of the tactics used by early executives and players to gain attention.

One of the greatest rivalries in basketball - Wilt Chamberlain versus Bill Russell. Russell and his Celtics continue to get the best of Chamberlain's teams, including in the iconic 1965 Eastern Conference Finals.

An introduction to the UCLA Bruins, arguably the greatest dynasty in the history of men's college basketball, and their coach John Wooden.

After winning six national championships, the UCLA dynasty continued through the Bill Walton era. The Bruins dominated until they came up against David Thompson and his NC State team, who finally knocked them off and claimed a title of their own.

The Portland Trailblazers, led by Bill Walton, win the 1977 NBA Championship against the Dr. J-led 76ers. Though it appeared a dynasty was being born, continuous injuries to Walton in the subsequent years derailed the team's chances.

Magic Johnson, then a rookie, puts himself on the map leading the LA Lakers to the 1980 NBA title. Johnson's brilliant career serves as a jumping off point to discuss whether basketball genius is born or made.

Former NBA commissioner David Stern is profiled, and the Stern era - considered to be the time in which the NBA's popularity exploded - is explored. One thing that helped: the star-studded "NBA: It's Fantastic" advertisement campaign.

A look at the strangest free throw shooting techniques in the sport's history, followed by a breakdown of the pick and roll, and the art of flopping.

A look at how the game of basketball became international, starting with coach John McLendon and later a wave of stars. In light of the emerging international talent, the US is unexpectedly beaten at the 1988 Olympics, finishing with the bronze medal.

Gregg Popovich and the Spurs embrace the globalization of basketball to create a dynasty in San Antonio. Pop's coaching roots are traced back to Larry Brown and the University of Kansas. With the Spurs, he turns international players into NBA superstars.

A celebration of both the fully immersive experience of modern basketball ‒ complete with daily games across the globe, social media interaction, and new technologies ‒ as well as the core tenets of the game that have made basketball great for years.

The ball, the common denominator, the object of a shared feeling is held, passed to and from, caressed, embraced, twirled, hugged, whispered to, and even kissed as the final act of an expression of shared emotion.